Intra-oral corrective device



Jan. 13, 1970 M. D. LERMAN INTRA-ORAL CORRECTIVE DEVICE Filed May 2, 1968 FIGI m L w A D fimgm flm aaw wm v United States Patent Ofice Patented Jan. 13, 1970 3,488,848 INTRA-ORAL CORRECTIVE DEVICE Martin D. Lei-man, 144 Ravine Drive, Highland Park, Ill. 60035 Filed May 2, 1968, Ser. No. 726,042 Int. Cl. A61c 9/00 U.S. Cl. 3219 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An intra-oral corrective device adapted for insertion between the upper and lower teeth or jaws of the wearer. The device includes a relatively flexible bite portion providing an arcuately shaped internal fluid passage which contains a quantity of fluid or semi-fluid material. The bite portion is secured to a positioning portion such as a palate-shaped plate which is adapted to be received against the palate of the wearer to retain the bite portion adjacent the occlusal surface of the upper set of teeth, or the bite portion may be secured directly to the upper or lower teeth by bars, saddles, clasps or the like.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to an intra-oral corrective device which is inserted between the maxilla, or upper jaw, and the mandible, or lower jaw, of the wearer.

This device may be used for diagnosis and treatment of patients who manifest any of a number of conditions, including pain in the head, face, ear or neck, limitation of oral function or mandibular movement, temporomandibular joint disfunction, pain, clicking or other unusual sounds in one or both of these joints, or any condition which may have as one of the etiologic factors a disharmony within the dentition or other structures which may result in a skull-mandible malrelationship, with the possible consequence of excessive or strained activity of the muscles of the head and/or neck.

The self-adjusting and adapting flow of fluid within the internal fluid passage of the device may eliminate or diminish many problems which have not heretofore been subject to satisfactory solution. For example, the device may be used to equalize the resistance encountered upon elevation of the mandible so as to eliminate compensatory contraction or adjustment by the muscles of mastication on each side of the head. The device may also compensate for any existing disharmonies in the occlusion between the upper and lower teeth and dental arches, and it may make uniform the proprioceptive impulses originating in the periodontal ligament which attaches the teeth to the supporting bone. These impulses, transmitted to the muscles of mastication, reflexly and unconsciously influence the degree and manner of contraction of these muscles. The device may also be used to suspend temporarily the strong influence of the dentition on the skullmandible inter-relationship which occurs when the teeth come into massive contact. Thereby, the masticatory musculature may be enabled to function in a less strained manner, and a more physiologic or undistorted skullmandible relationship established.

SUMMARY The inventive correction device acts toward correcting the foregoing and other problem situations by virtue of the self-adjusting flow of a fluid or fluid-like substance retained within the internal fluid passage of the device. The passage may be arcuately shaped to conform to the entire dental arch of the wearer, or it may occupy one or more segments of the dental arch. The positioning elements of the device serve to retain the fluid passage between the upper and lower dental arches, prostheses, or

jaws even during movement of the mandible with respect to the skull as during sleeping, swallowing, talking, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment described in the following drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the corrective device;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the device in position between the upper and lower sets of teeth of a wearer;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the mesial plane of the device or along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the device equalizing the pressures exerted by the upper and lower sets of teeth or opposite sides of the mouth;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the bite portion of the device; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative method of positioning the device.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The particular corrective device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a bite portion 11 and a positioning portion 12. The bite portion 11 is adapted to be inserted between the upper and lower sets of teeth or the jaws of the wearer, and is provided with an outer arcuately or U- shaped periphery 13, which corresponds generally with the dental arch shape of the wearer. It is to be understood that the term teeth as used herein is not meant to be limited to natural teeth and includes prostheses or combination of prostheses and natural teeth. The positioning portion 12 is shaped to conform to the palate of a human and is adapted to be retained thereagainst by the surface tension of the saliva between the positioning portion and its adjacent tissue.

As can be seen in FIG; 2, when the corrective device 10 is worn, the bite portion 11 is positioned between the upper set 15 of teeth and the lower set 16 of teeth, and the upper surface 14 of the attaching portion presses against the palate 17.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the bite portion 11 includes upper and lower layers 18 and 19 respectively, of a relatively flexible plastic such as polyester film which are heat sealed together adjacent the outer periphery 13 of the bite portion as at 20 and along a line spaced inwardly from the heat sealed joint 20 as at 21 to provide a generally U-shaped or arcuate passage 22 therebetween. The upper and lower layers 18 and 19 are also heat sealed as at 23 and 24 to join the joints 20 and 21 and close the passage 22. Just prior to the time the passage 22 is completely sealed, a fluid or fluid-like substance 25 is inserted into the passage 22. The fluid may be any nontoxic substance, such as water, glycerine, and the like. The plastic layers 18 and 19 are somewhat flexible, and when pressure is applied along a portion of the bite portion, the fluid flows into the remainder of the bite portion to equalize the internal pressure against the entire surface of the passage.

Referring to FIG. 6 the bite portion includes a central portion or web 26 which extends between the opposite ends of the passage 22. After the upper and lower layers 18 and 19 are joined to provide the passage 22 and the fluid 25 is inserted, the positioning plate 12 may be molded about the web 26 of the bite portion. The positioning plate may be made of any suitable relatively rigid material, and which may be molded about the web 26 to enclose the web therein and secure the bite portion to the positioning portion, and many such plastic materials for making palate plates are well known in the art, such as, for example, methylmethacrylate. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the molded positioning portion includes upper and lower lips 27 and 28 which terminate adjacent the inner edge 21 of the passage 22 and enclose the web 6 therebetween. The positioning portion may be custommade to fit the palate of a particular person by first making a mold of the palate and using the mold to form the positioning portion.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the corrective device 10 may be inserted into the mouth of the wearer and the positioning plate pressed against the palate and retained thereagainst by the mating contours of the palate and the upper surface 14 of the attaching portion and by surface tension. The passage 22 conforms generally to the occlusal curve of the upper set 15 of teeth and is retained adjacent the upper occlusal surface even when the wearers mouth is open as during swallowing, talking, and the like by the engagement of the positioning portion with the palate.

As viewed in FIG. 5, the occlusal surfaces of the teeth on the right side of the upper and lower sets 15 and 16, respectively, are closer together than the occlusal surfaces of the left side, and this malocclusion may be caused by any of a number of factors. If this malocclusion is uncorrected, the muscles of mastication on the left side attempt compensatory contraction or adjustment, in many cases leading to pain or other symptoms. The inventive corrective device compensates for the malocclusion and equalizes the forces exerted against the upper and lower sets for teeth on both the right and left hand sides. As the mandible closes, the teeth on the right side first contact the bite portion, forcing the water or other fluid within the passage 22 to flow to the left side of the passage. Since the fluid will flow until the pressure exerted by the fluid Within the passage is uniformly distributed therearound, the pressures exerted by the bite portion against the occlusal curve are equalized, and no compensatory adjustment is required by the muscles of mastication. The plastic layers 18 and 19 are relatively flexible so that the bite portion may readily deform upon the application of external pressure, thereby providing the compensatory flow of the fluid.

Although in the specific embodiment illustrated, the fluid passage 22 extends generally along the entire length of the occlusal curve from adjacent the posterior teeth on one side of the mouth to adjacent the posterior teeth on the other side, the'bite portion and fluid passage may ex tend for only a segment or a plurality of segments of the occlusal curve to correct malocclusion at a specific area or areas. However, the fluid passage will generally be somewhat elongated, extending along at least several teeth.

The bite portion 11 of device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is positioned by means of the palate portion 12. However, the palate portion 12 may be eliminated if desired and the bite portion positioned by other means. For example, the bite portion may be attached to either the upper or lower teeth by a palatal bar, lingual bar, flanges, saddles, clasps, arches, arch wires, and the like, all well known in the art. The important thing is to position the fluid passage between the maxilla and mandible.

The corrective device 10' illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises a bite portion 11 which includes a pair of plastic attaching tabs 29 and 30 which are formed integrally with the bite portion. The tabs 29 and 30 are secured, as by adhesive, to a relatively rigid lingual bar 31 is adapted to be connected to the lower teeth of the wearer to position the bite portion adjacent the dental arch of the lower set of teeth. Similarly, the bite portion could be secured to a palatal bar.

Other embodiments of my invention may be envisioned. For example, rather than heat sealing plastic layers to provide the fluid passage 22, a preformed tube of any flexible material may be used. Further, instead of a permanently fluid substance such as water, a substance may be used which is fluid when inserted into the passage but which will subsequently harden. Suitable materials,

such as various impression materials, are well known in the art. The patient will bite the bite portion of the device while the substance is fluid and the closed hydraulic system provided by the passage 22 will enable one portion of the jaws to work againstanother to properly orient the fluid substance. The substance will then harden, and the corrective device will provide a record of the position of the mouth when the muscles of mastication are pulling evenly.

While in the foregoing specification, I have described a specific embodiment of my invention in considerable detail for the purpose of explanation, it is to be understood that many of the details hereingiven may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A dental device for insertion between the upper and lower teeth of a person having a relatively flexible bite portion adapted to be inserted between the upper and lower teeth, said bite portion providing a closed internal fluid passage therein, palate positioning means secured to said bite portion, and a fluid-like substance within said passage, said positioning means adapted to position the fluid passage adjacent the biting surfaces of the dental arch of the person, said bite portion being responsive to pressure differences exerted therealong by the upper and lower teeth to cause compensating flow of said fluid-like substance, whereby the pressure between 1 the upper and lower teeth is substantially uniform along the entire bite portion thereby compensating for unequal pressure between the areas of tooth contact.

2. The dental device of claim 1 wherein said bite portion includes upper and lower plastic layers sealed together to provide a generally arcuately shaped closed fluid passage therebetween.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said fluid passage is generally U-shaped to conform to the curve of occlusion of the wearer and is adapted to extend from adjacent the posterior teeth on one side of the mouth to adjacent the posterior teeth on the other side of the mouth.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said fluid is adapted to harden after insertion into said fluid passage.

5. An intra-oral corrective device having a relatively flexible bite portion adapted to be inserted between the maxilla and mandible of a person, said bite portion providing a closed internal fluid passage therein, a fluid-like substance within said passage, said bite portion being responsive to pressure differences exerted therealong by the upper and lower teeth to cause compensating flow of said fluid-like substance, and positioning means secured to said bite portion, said positioning means including a palatal bar to position said passage-providing portion adjacent the dental arch of the upper set of teeth and between the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth.

6. An intra-oral corrective device having a relatively flexible bite portion adapted to be inserted between the maxilla and mandible of a person, said bite portion providing a closed internal fluid passage therein, a fluid-like substance within said passage, said bite portion being responsive to pressure differences exerted therealong by the upper and lower teeth to cause compensating flow of said fluid-like substance, and positioning means secured to said bite portion, said positioning means including a lingual bar to position said passage-providing portion adjacent the dental arch of the upper set of teeth and between the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

